Adding Arnold

DEREK Adams’ sole addition to the Argyle squad on Wednesday’s Transfer Deadline Day, Arnold Garita, is at Home Park to offer the Pilgrims’ striking department an added dimension.

The Argyle boss has plotted his way through the summer window with careful precision, adding 16 players in all since the end of last season. The most recent two – Craig Tanner and Garita – are loan signings, brought in to augment an already rather deep squad.

Tanner, who scored Argyle’s fourth in a 4-1 win against Newport County on Tuesday night in the Checkatrade Trophy, is a known quantity to Adams, having played 50 games on loan from Reading in the 2015-16 season. Garita, though, is more of a mystery.

What we do know is that the 21-year-old Cameroon-born forward, standing over six feet tall, was signed by Bristol City in January, from Chateauroux in France. City view him as a prospect for the future, and he has spent much of his time at Ashton Gate playing for the club’s under-21 side.

Over to Derek to fill us in a little more: “He’s a powerful striker. He’s been at Bristol City since January. He gives us a wee bit of presence. We’ve already got that, but he gives us help up front.

“We’ve got a number of very good forwards, but he gives us a different dimension to what we have here already. He likes to lead the line; makes very good runs; can take the ball in, and he’s a different striker that we can use.

“We’ve seen him in the under-21s at Bristol City. It’s important that you see people before you sign them.

“With any loan signing there’s a risk, but last year we took in a lot and 90% of them worked out well for us. Having that recruitment and seeing what type of character they are, and their pedigree, is important.

“He’s ready to go straight in. Looking at last year, Hiram Boateng was inexperienced and he came in and performed very well. Craig Tanner played 50 games last season. If you look at it, the younger ones want to come in and prove something.”

For those that get excited by the ‘#incoming’ phenomenon on Twitter every time a new Pilgrim is recruited, the hashtag is unlikely to be seen again this year.

Clubs are now not allowed to sign players, on permanent or loan deals, from another club until the transfer window is re-opened in January. Until then, clubs have to make do with that they have. The only exemption would be the acquisition of someone who was already a free agent at the end of August.

“I think it’s a very good ruling,” said Derek. “It helps managers, and the league as a whole. It makes it more professional. I’ve been used to it in Scotland for many years, working from transfer window to transfer window.

“It will mean that we will still have a look in the January transfer window. We only have two loans in at this moment in time – that might change come January.”